Biosecurity, Anthrax Information Distributed

DENVER, Colo. (November 12, 2001) – An informational document on biosecurity and anthrax is being distributed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and state beef councils and affiliate organizations to reassure and advise producers in the wake of bioterrorism threats against America. The beef industry is distributing 150,000 copies to producers. The document was funded by dues dollars, checkoff dollars, and a sponsorship from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., a leading animal health company.

Called “Animal Disease & Biosecurity,” the document has information on what the U.S. government and beef industry are doing to prevent bioterrorism, how anthrax can be recognized and combated, and biosecurity measures producers can take to protect their livestock.

Some of the key messages from the material:

q Anthrax is not a food safety issue in the U.S.

q The U.S. government and beef industry were on a heightened state of alert even before Sept. 11 -- ever since the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic hit Europe – and are well prepared to address animal disease issues.

q Beef producers can help their industry and country by remaining alert and paying attention to who is on their property.

q While anthrax captures the headlines, an outbreak of FMD would be more detrimental to the industry – there are steps farmers and livestock producers can take to minimize the threat of either one.

More than 75,000 copies of the four-page piece have been ordered by state beef councils and cattlemen associations for local distribution. Another 33,000 copies were inserted in the Nov. 9 issue of NCBA’s Beef Business Bulletin.

Copies of the publication (Item #21911) are available for a minimal fee to cover shipping charges. Order them from Customer Service Dept., NCBA, P.O. Box 670, Bloomingdale, IL 60108-0670, phone 800-368-3138, e-mail customerservice@beef.org. The piece is available online at www.beef.org/Anthrax/anthrax.htm. A reproducible black and white master may also be downloaded from the site.

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Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.